Buget Sound!

[Phi-Rus]

I am thinking about buying a soundcard for my computer (i currently use onboard sound...it sucks) Any recommendations as to what to get? I have a limit, nothing over a 100 dollars, and i'm looking for the best possible sound quality. I have searched around...but i dont know what i'm looking for.

[Danman589019]

how about this?
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-101&depa=0

[Sephiroth]

This one has better SNR and uses higher quality DAC's.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-101&depa=0

Creative's SNR estimates are loose at best.

[Danman589019]

that's what i linked too..

[Mindwarp]

If money is a bit tight, you could try the Hercules Muse 5.1 DVD. (Nobody laugh, remember we're comparing this to older on board sound) It's the card I had before going to the Audigy and I found it sounded very nice for such an inexpensive card.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Danman589019

that's what i linked too..

sorry, I just assumed the audigy 2 or something is what you linked too. At least we agree on the same card though

[Philanthropist]

Do they still sell the Santa Cruz? I remember that being a pretty good card for the money. Of course, it's been a long time since I bought a sound card. I guess I'll have to look at buying one though, since there's no plan to make xp64 drivers for mine, and I'm too lazy to try to mod them.

[cetoole]

AV-710 is the best for the money. What are you going to be using it for? If it is for music, the EMU 0404 is about the best for your price range.

[K31TH3R]

*sigh* fine, i'll be the first person to do it.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-178&depa=0

creative has the worst software ever, it's slow, it's faulty... it always switches me to 2.1 sound and turns CMSS off and ****es me off.... but for $70 you get extremely high quality hardware, and an extremely quick DSP processor.

^best bang for your buck, even though we all hate creative, and we try to dodge them and go for other products, they're still the way to go.

[Philanthropist]

Originally Posted by K31TH3R

*sigh* fine, i'll be the first person to do it.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-178&depa=0

creative has the worst software ever, it's slow, it's faulty... it always switches me to 2.1 sound and turns CMSS off and ****es me off.... but for $70 you get extremely high quality hardware, and an extremely quick DSP processor.

^best bang for your buck, even though we all hate creative, and we try to dodge them and go for other products, they're still the way to go.

AAAHH BLASPHEMY, KILL THE HERETIC!!

Actually I agree, they are not bad for sound quality in that price range. Personally I love the Creative Mediasource program that comes with them. Beats the hell out of WMP.

[kec789]

Originally Posted by K31TH3R

*sigh* fine, i'll be the first person to do it.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-178&depa=0

creative has the worst software ever, it's slow, it's faulty... it always switches me to 2.1 sound and turns CMSS off and ****es me off.... but for $70 you get extremely high quality hardware, and an extremely quick DSP processor.

^best bang for your buck, even though we all hate creative, and we try to dodge them and go for other products, they're still the way to go.

Yeah, the drivers can be a pain to get working right, but the Audigy 2 ZS sounds awesome. (They've actually made a couple small changes in the autoupdate feature at creative's site which cleaned it up a little too BTW.)

I never get the 2.1 switching problem...first I've heard of it. But yeah, go A2ZS...you'll be happy.

[gervin100]

I also recommend the the SB Audigy 2 ZS.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by K31TH3R

*sigh* fine, i'll be the first person to do it.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-178&depa=0

creative has the worst software ever, it's slow, it's faulty... it always switches me to 2.1 sound and turns CMSS off and ****es me off.... but for $70 you get extremely high quality hardware, and an extremely quick DSP processor.

^best bang for your buck, even though we all hate creative, and we try to dodge them and go for other products, they're still the way to go.

for $70, its finnaly cheap enough to consider buying.

[Phi-Rus]

Wow....i'm gone for a day and a half...and this happens? lol. it's mostly going to be for music and games. I checked out the links, and its a fight between the Chaintech CHAINTECH 7.1 Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "AV-710" -RETAIL and the M-AUDIO 7.1 Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "Revolution 7.1" -RETAIL...lol...and i have had a creative before...and i refuse to buy one again. (I hate the software). So...now it's between those 2...and whatever else i can find. thanks for the help.

[Phi-Rus]

Well....now that i know what to look for....(from the stats of those cards)....i am seeing that the M-AUDIO 7.1 Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "Revolution 7.1" -RETAIL and the M-AUDIO 7.1 Channel PCI Sound Card, Model "Revolution 5.1" -RETAIL are the same thing...except for the fact that one is 7.1 (surround i am assuming) and the other is 5.1 (also surround i assume)...so...what would be the point of getting the 7.1 ($92) and not the 5.1 ($66) it's $40 cheaper..when i only have 2 speakers anyways...
but getting the 5.1 card..would probably drive me to getting a surround sys.
So....now that I know what card i am going to get...what would be some suggestions for a surround sound system (trying to keep the price under 100).?

[Sephiroth]

what would be some suggestions for a surround sound system (trying to keep the price under 100).?

one word:
Logitech.

[Phi-Rus]

haha....Logitech eh?

[Phi-Rus]

Woa....high priced (on newegg anyways)

[tw33k2514]

eh get a Audigy 2. idk i like creative alot

[Phi-Rus]

Audigy 2? meh..i haven't had a good experiance with Creative. What is the software like? Is there alot of options that you won't ever need?